Match-box.



Patented Feb. I3, I900. A. FEARNAUGHT.

MATCH BOX.

(Application filed May 2, 1899.)

(No Model.)

0 //v VENTOH t/fZbeni'eozrnau WITNESSES zfa y ALBERT FEARNAUGIIT, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

MATci-heox.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,350, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed May 2, 1899. 'derial No. 715,275. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALBERT FEARNAUGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is to produce a cheap cardboard match-box practically no more expensive than those which are commonly used to pack matches in ready for sale, but which shall be capable also of being hung on the'wall and used as a matchsafe.

Said invention will be first fully described and the novel features thereof then pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,Fignre 1 is a perspective view of a match box embodying one form of my invention, showing thesame in the position it occupies when opened and hung on the wall ready for use as a matchsafe; Fig. 2, a central sectional view of the same with the lower end or tray portion folded in, its open position being indicated by dotted lines; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the whole structure folded and closed together, the several parts being in the position they occupy when the same is used as a box before being opened; Fig. 4, a transverse sectional view on the dotted line 4 4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a plan of the piece of paper or cardboard from which the outer por tion of the box is made as 'the same appears when out and scored ready to be folded, and Fig. 6 a similar View of the piece from which the inner portion of the box is made.

As will be seen, this structure, generally speaking, is when closed together an ordinary telescopic box, in which the inner part forms the box proper and the outer portion a cover therefor. It, however, possesses several peculiarities, as will now be described.

Referring first to the outer portion, which is composed of the side and edge folds 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and the end folds 7 and 8, it will be observed that small slits s are formed in the corners between the folds 3 and 4 and at and 5, which slits are adapted to receive projections on the inner box, as will be presently described, while the folds 7 and 8 serve to close one end of the telescopic-box cover. A small semicircular ear 6 is cutout of the fold 7 and extends out from the edge of the fold 8, as shown, and forms when the device is in use as a match-safe the ear from which it is suspended, while when the box is folded up, as shown in Fig. 3, it forms an car which may be grasped by the fingers for the purpose of pulling the folds 8 and 7 outinto position. The fold 3 forms one edge of the box, and the folds 1 and 5 are brought togetherand pasted and form the other edge, as shown. Semicircular notches a are cut in the lower edges of the folds 2 and 1 to give convenient finger-holds to grasp the inner box when it is desired to withdraw it from the outer box or cover.

The inner box is composed of the fold 10, which forms its bottom, the folds 11 and 12, which form its sides, the folds 13 and 14,which form its ends, the fold 15, which forms the front of the tray when the box is so used, the small folds 16 and 17, which form the ends of the tray, and the small folds 18, 19, 20,-and 21, by which the sides are united to the ends when the box is folded up and in proper position. The sides 11 and 12 are each provided with a projection 19, which tapers upon one side and is abrupt upon the other. WVhen the parts are assembled, these projections are adapted to pass into the slits sin the corners of the outer box or cover, as shown, and the arrangement is such that when the box is pulled out, so as to expose the tray below the bottom of the outer box, the movement will be stopped just when the tray has reached the proper position, as shown most plainly in Figs. 1 and 2. The arrangement is such that the engagement of the slits and projections notonly serves to support the box and tray receptacle in which the matches are immediately placed, but also so that the extreme corners of the ends of the tray shall remain behind the side of the cover or outer telescopic part, and the tray be thus supported. This is clearly shown in Figs. 1. and 2. In the edge of the fold 15 is asemicircularcut c for convenience in inserting the fingers of the user in removing matches from the safe when the device is in the position shown in Fig. 1. My improved box thus furnishes a cheap and convenient combined sales-box and users safe for matches which requires no handling on the part of the purchaser or user of the matches, as they are already when purchased in a receptacle from which they may be conveniently taken for use.

Having thus fully described my said in vention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a combined match-box and match-safe in which the match-holding receptacle is provided with a folding tray and means for supporting said tray in position to retain its contents after the match-box is opened, substantiallyas set forth.

2. The combination, of an inner sliding box having a tray adapted to be folded out and the box thus converted into a match-safe, and an outer box adapted to slide over the same and form a cover therefor and also a support for the corners of the ends of the tray when in position for use, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of an inner sliding box having projections on its edges, and an outer box having corresponding slits in its corners, said projections being adapted to enter said slits and limit the movement of the innerbox within the outer box or cover, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, in a match-box, of anmoved telescopically over the same, the latter being provided with a folding end from which the device may be suspended when in use as a safe, substantially as set forth.

5. A match-box composed of a sheet of suitable material cut and scored into a bottom division, 10, side pieces, 11 and 12, end divisions, 13 and 14, suitable corner-pieces for attaching the sides and ends, and a tray portion, 15, 16 and 17, the inner corners of portion 17 being arranged to impinge against the lower end of the outer sliding box when in position for use, and said outer sliding box, substantially as shown and described.

6. A box-cover formed of a sheet of suitable material composed of the sides 2 and 4, the edges 3 and 1 to 5, and end folds 7and 8, said fold 8 having an ear 6 thereon which is cut from the fold 7, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with the body of a match-box, of a folding tray portion at one end thereof, and means for supporting it when open whereby the box is adapted also to use as a match-safe, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereuntoset my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 29th day of April, A. D. 1899.

ALBERT FEARNAUGHT. [n s] Witnesses:

CHESTER BRADFORD, JAMES A. WALSH. 

